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Process saves time

Having worked almost 30 years in the building consulting field, I can answer his question as to why the police-headquarters project changed from the efficient complete-cost-controlled process of design-bid-build to the inefficient guaranteed-cost-overrun process of design-build: to save time.

Politicians have only a four-year life span, and completing large projects from funding to occupancy is difficult to achieve in a short time frame, when considering huge costs, multi-departmental requirements, layers of communication, and the worst culprit, egos.

Design-build saves time, but the guaranteed price is a fantasy, since it is based on incomplete construction documents. Invariably, the client will have a filet-mignon building in mind, but the contractor is pricing a building made from ground chuck.

Sadly, Kives fell for the contractor's spiel that design-build can reduce costs for the client. It never does. Since a sole contractor controls prices for changes, additions, upgrades or just completion of the documents, any cost is always double, to the client's detriment, in this case, the taxpayer.

DAN CECCHINI

Winnipeg

Blaming the NDP

Your Nov. 16 story Kids in care rising: report contains informative and alarming statistics, but I wonder why it started out with "the number of children in welfare agencies has doubled since the NDP took power in 1999."

Is the Free Press suggesting the NDP is solely responsible for the increase in child neglect or abuse?

The article also states 80 per cent of these children are aboriginal, but do not First Nations fall under federal jurisdiction?

Should it then not say the numbers have doubled since Conservatives came to power federally?

Please give credit where credit is due.

PAUL JANSSEN

Traverse Bay

Lowest denominator

I am disgusted with the pointer "Pimp my ride" on your Nov. 16 front page. While your headline writer was clearly trying to make your paper sound cool and hip, it only reduces your publication to the lowest common denominator.

Do you need to be reminded of the numbers of women in the sex trade who have died in this city? Violence and abuse is a reality for many women in the sex trade, often at the hands of their pimps.

The Free Press needs to wake up. This issue is not funny.

CANDICE BODNARUK

Winnipeg

Unconcerned with safety

Re: Civic border wars (Nov. 16). In your Nov. 16 editorial Civic border wars, I found this statement highly amusing: "The province is opposed to allowing access from the high-speed highways because it could pose a safety hazard."

Is this the same province that allows left turns off the high-speed passing lane on the Perimeter Highway? Is this the same province that has littered traffic lights all along the Perimeter, which was designed to be a ring road and thus a faster way to get around the city?

The safety issue statement is a joke. In the end, it won't matter at all.

RUTH FULLER

East St. Paul

Signs often unclear

Re: Work-zone speeders to see penalties climb (Nov. 16). I cannot disagree with this plan since workers must be protected from speeders. However, there is also a responsibility of the workers to place the signs appropriately.

Too often one sees signs that indicate workers are to be anticipated on the highway, but as one drives on it becomes apparent there are no workers. Also, there is no indication when one has left the work zone.

I have often seen signs indicating there is a flag person to be encountered shortly. Often the flag person is many kilometres down the road or many times there is no flag person to be seen. It seems signs are not being managed correctly and it may be why some motorists seem to ignore the signs.

LYLE KASTRUKOFF

Baldur

Who makes war call?

In his Nov. 18 letter, Pacifism can be costly, Don Hermiston states pacifists see only the horrors of war, not its necessity.

I am a Mennonite pacifist because I do not believe in the necessity of war.

And even if wars are a necessity, who makes that call? George W. Bush, Rob Ford, Benjamin Netanyahu, the military? The bullies, meaning all of the above.

JACK THIESSEN

New Bothwell

Figment of imagination

Overheard at a Jets game: "If Rob Ford didn't exist, Phil Sheegl would have to make him up."

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You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments.
All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.